QUOTE: Jean-Paul Sartre

People who live in society have learned to see themselves in mirrors as they appear to their friends. Is that why my flesh is naked? You might say - yes, you might say, nature without humanity.

From the book Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre

Paulo Coelho's Warrior of the Light - strategy

In this issue
- The Warrior of Light and strategy

A sword can last a short time, but the warrior has to last a long time. That is why he must not let himself be fooled by his own capacity and so be taken by surprise. To each thing he gives the true value that it deserves.
Often, when he is faced with serious matters, the devil whispers in his ear: "Do not bother about that, that’s not serious."
Other times, when he is faced with trivial matters, the devil whispers: "You need to spend all your energy on solving this situation.”
The warrior does not listen to what the devil is saying. He is the master of his sword.

Pay attention to your allies

A warrior does not associate with anyone who wishes him harm. Nor is he seen in the company of those who want to "console" him.
He avoids whoever is only at his side in moments of defeat. These false friends want to prove that weakness has its rewards. They always bear bad news. They always try to destroy the warrior’s trust, under the disguise of "solidarity".
When they see him injured they break into tears, but deep in their hearts they are happy because the warrior has lost a battle. They fail to understand that this is a part of combat.
A warrior’s true companions are at his side at each and every moment, in times both difficult and easy.

Negotiating with the enemy

When the moment of combat draws near, the Warrior of Light is prepared for any circumstance. He analyzes each possibility and asks himself: "What would I do if I had to fight against myself?"
This is how he discovers his weak points.
At this moment the adversary approaches, carrying a bag filled with promises, agreements and negotiations. He has tempting proposals and easy alternatives to offer.
The warrior analyzes each of these proposals; he also seeks an agreement, but without losing his dignity. If he avoids combat, it is not because he was seduced – but rather because he decided that this was the best strategy.
A Warrior of Light does not accept presents from the enemy.

On the defense and on the attack

The warrior is careful with people who think they can control the world, determine their own steps, and are certain that they know the right path. They are always so confident in their own capacity of decision that they do not realize the irony with which fate writes everyone’s life.
The Warrior of Light has dreams. His dreams carry him forward. But he never commits the mistake of thinking that the road is easy and the door wide.
He knows that the Universe works like alchemy: solve et coagula, say the masters. ”Concentrate and disperse your energy according to the situation.”
There are moments to act and moments to accept.

In the face of defeat

The Warrior of Light knows how to lose. He does not hold defeat as something indifferent, using phrases like "well, it wasn’t all that important", or "to tell the truth, I did not really want that".
He accepts defeat as a defeat; he does not try to change it into a victory or an experience. He suffers the pain of his wounds, the indifference of his friends and the loneliness of loss. At such moments he says to himself: "I fought for something, and I failed to get it. I lost the first battle.”
This phrase will give him strength. He is aware that nobody wins all the time – but the courageous always win in the end.

Copyright @ 2006 by Paulo Coelho
Warrior of Light Online, published by www.paulocoelho.com.br

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Selected Warrior of the Light issues are available as free e-books (PDF format) from the Smink Works Books site

Some enlightenment with your coffee?

You've heard of the book shop that started a cafe to attract customers, well Starbucks is trying it the other way round - the coffee store will sell Mitch Albom's new book in October from 5,400 US locations, there will be book discussion sessions in some cities with Mitch himself visiting.
Albom is the author of the bestsellers Five People you meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie. His upcoming book For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?
In a press release, Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz said: "Our goal is to support the discovery and enjoyment of Mitch's new book by leveraging what is so special about the Starbucks in-store environment -- the feeling of community and the interaction of customers with one another, our baristas and the quality products we so carefully select for their enjoyment."
Well I'm not so sure about the community environment, but Albom books are definitely worth reading and if selling them in a coffee shop increases the number of readers in general and the number of readers of books like Albom's that can really change lives, then that has to be a good thing.
Plus, Albom has requested that Starbucks donate $1 per book sold to Jumpstart to promote reading and literacy, which is extra good. I'll have venti latte with literacy and enlightenment thanks.

Paulo Coelho's Warrior of the Light - The blind man and Everest

In this issue
- The blind man and Everest

Little by little we seem to grow used to the same metaphors for life. Some time ago I wrote in this column the “Manual for climbing mountains”, and out of the blue I meet a reader in Hamburg who decides to share his experience with me about climbing in life. He discovered what hotel I am in, and has some criticism to make of my page in the Internet. After making some harsh comments, he asks:
“Do you mind if I take a photo with my girlfriend?”
Of course I don’t. He picks up his cellular, presses a button, says nothing, and his girlfriend turns up a minute later.
After the photo is taken comes the next question, this one more intriguing:
“Can a blind man climb Mount Everest?”
“I don’t think so,” I answer.
“Why don’t you answer ‘perhaps’?”
I am almost certain that I am in the company of a “compulsive optimist.” One thing is the whole universe conspiring for our dreams to become true, quite another is to place yourself in front of absolutely unnecessary challenges, which can lead to death or unpredictable failure.
I explain that I have to leave for an appointment, but the reader does not give up.
“The blind can climb Everest, the highest mountain in the world (8,848 meters). Not only can they do it, but I happen to know of at least one blind person who did it. His name is Erik Weihenmayer. Can your appointment wait?”
Since he gave me a name, there could an interesting story here. My appointment can wait, of course.
“In 2001, Weihenmayer managed the feat. Meanwhile, people complain that they cannot afford a better car, more elegant clothes, and a salary that matches their abilities.”
“Are you sure?”
“Look it up in the Internet. But what fascinates me is that Weihenmayer knew exactly what he wanted: he changed his life into what he thought it should be. He had the courage to risk everything to have the universe conspire in his favor.”
I agree. The reader goes on, as if my attitude is no longer of any interest to him:
“If you know what you want in life, then you have all you need to manage to make your dream come true. Didn’t you yourself say that?”
Of course. But there are limits, such as blind people climbing the highest mountain on earth.
“And if people have no dreams, what are they supposed to do?”
“Think about something that they would like to be doing, and then take the first step,” I answer. “Without being afraid of making a mistake. Without fear of offending those who ‘worry’ about their behavior.”
“That’s it!” said the reader, for the first time identifying my ideas clearly. “So we realize that to reach what we want we have to run risks. Don’t you say that in your books?”
Not only do I say it, but I also try to keep my word. But we are interrupted in our conversation; it is time for the appointment that has brought me to Hamburg. I thank him for his attention, ask him to send me suggestions for my page on the Internet, we take another picture and then say goodbye.
At three o’clock in the morning, returning from that event, I reach into my pocket for the key to my room and discover the piece of paper where he had jotted down the blind man’s name. Even knowing that I have to travel to Cairo in a couple of hours, I turn on the computer, and there it is:
“On 25 May 2001, at the age of 32, Erik Weihenmayer became the first blind person to reach the top of the highest mountain in the world. A former high-school teacher, he received the ESPN and IDEA prize for his courage in overcoming the limits that his physical condition permitted. Besides Everest, Erik Weihenmayer has climbed the other seven highest mountains in the world, including Aconcagua in Argentina and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania”.
If you don’t believe it, look it up.

Copyright @ 2006 by Paulo Coelho
Warrior of Light Online, published by www.paulocoelho.com.br

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Selected Warrior of the Light issues are available as free e-books (PDF format) from the Smink Works Books site